Before I start, I would just like to say that from now on, I am going to try to have a more concrete posting schedule which is usually going to consist of posting Wednesdays and Saturdays. So be on the lookout on Wednesday 👀.
All right, let’s begin. Apple announced a new set of iPads on March 4, along with several other products that same week. The two headlines were the new iPad Air (M3) and the iPad 11. Let’s start with the flagship of those two.
The iPad Air just got updated last May, so this is a relatively short update timeframe for this iPad. In fact, this latest iPad Air announcement makes the iPad Air (M2) the second-shortest lived iPad ever at 293 days.
We all love the current form factor of the iPad Air, with its full-screen display, Touch ID, bright colors, two screen sizes, and great accessories. This year, Apple just enhanced the iPad to make it even better. The new iPad Air gets a major boost improvement with the M3 chip being nearly 2x faster than iPad Air with M1 and up to 3.5x faster than iPad Air with A14 Bionic. With the new M3 chip, some great features like Apple Intelligence, great cameras, and fast 5G connectivity make them even faster.
In addition, Apple also announced a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air. The new Magic Keyboard is similar to the iPad Pro’s Magic Keyboard, but not same. It has a 14-key function row at the top with things like screen brightness and volume controls, and also a bigger trackpad than before. But, it’s not made from higher-end aluminum materials (except for the hinge) like the iPad Pro’s Magic Keyboard. The Magic Keyboard is cheaper than before, priced at $279 for the 11″ and $319 for the 13″ versions. The iPad Air is compatible with the Apple Pencil USB-C ($79) and the Apple Pencil Pro ($129) along with the smart folio cases. The new iPad Air starts at $599 for the 128GB, 11″ model and the 13″ model starts at $799.
I think this iPad is the perfect model for a wide variety of customers, including students, everyday users, and those who want powerful performance in a portable design. This iPad is also the perfect middle ground in the iPad lineup, having more performance and more premium accessories than the iPad, but not the higher-end Pro features the iPad Pro offers (which is often too much for a normal user).
On the other hand, in a bit of a smaller update, Apple also announced the iPad 11. Many of the things remain the same from the previous iPad, like a full-screen display, Touch ID, awesome 12MP rear camera, bright color options, and great accessories. Some improvements Apple added for this new model is there is a new A16 chip inside, which is found in the iPhone 13 series, which offers nearly 30% faster performance compared to the previous generation of iPad. In fact, compared to iPad with A13 Bionic, users will see up to a 50% improvement in overall performance, and the A16 chip makes the updated iPad up to 6x faster than the best-selling Android tablet. A thing to note though with this new chip, the new iPad 11 does not support Apple Intelligence, which may be a bummer for some, or others might not care. And, a notable change is the new iPad now starts at 128GB of storage, instead of the previous 64GB, all at the same starting price of $349.
My take on this new budget iPad is I think it is the perfect iPad for someone who is getting their first iPad. Whether that be a kid getting their first iPad or an Android user switching to Apple. It has many of the features that Apple users expect without packing too many features to be overwhelming. The notable remission of Apple Intelligence is noteworthy, but I can understand from Apple’s standpoint why not to include it in this model, as this iPad is the cheapest model and it is a reason why to upgrade to the Air or Pro models if you so desire.
Overall, Apple refined two iPad models with meaningful upgrades. The iPad Air gets a powerful M3 chip, making it a great mid-tier option, while the iPad 11 improves with a faster chip and more storage, ideal for first-time users. Though not groundbreaking, these updates make the lineup stronger and more appealing.
You can read more here from 9to5mac: Apple unveils new iPad Air, here’s what you need to know
And, read more from Apple here: Apple introduces iPad Air with powerful M3 chip and new Magic Keyboard
The Apple Enthusiast 